Floor structure



R. w. BROWN 2,216,732

1 1.0011 STRUCTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 9} 193a IV V \y W i i fry llk llk lkollslk IV IV AIL Patented Oct. 8, 1940 UNITED STATES;

FLOOR STRUCTURE Robert W. Brown, Baldwin, N. Y. Application June 9, 1938,Serial No. 212,633

6 Claims.

. This invention relates to improvements in floor structure for building construction.

Its object is to provide an inexpensive preiabmaterial as that forming the lattice and arranged in such a way as to form both longitudinal and transverse trusses. These units are arranged to be connected together side by side and thus form a rigid structure capable of sustaining greater loads than such. structures of similar character as have been available heretofore. The units are made of a suitable length so as to be supported at their ends by parts of a building in which they are to be used, and provision is made to, have the outer edges of the assembled structure also supported by parts of the building.

;According to a modification which will be described specifically, two spaced lattices are interconnected by a web system of longitudinal and transverse oblique braces forming truss members. Another advantage of this invention is that the depth of the structure may be less than that of former structures of like strength, thus forming a thinner floor and a saving in height of a building in which they are used. The framework is simple in construction, can be shipped in units and is easily erected.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification in which several embodiments of the invention will be described and its .novel features set forth in appended claims.

Referring to the drawings,

Fig.1 is a perspective view of a part of a unit which is made according to and embodies my invention;

Fig.2 is a side elevation of the unit shown in Fig. 1; I -Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the preceding figures;

Fig. 4 is a sectional end elevation of the same the unit illustrated unit, the section being taken on the line 4-4 ofFig. 1;

- Fig. 4A is a fragmentary view showing a modification of construction;

4B is a sectional elevation similar to Fig. 4 showing a plurality of units fastened together; v

Fig. 5 is a sectional end elevation similar to Fig. 4, showing the unit constructed of strips curved in cross-section, which is at present considered a preferred construction;

Fig. 6 is an elevation similar to Fig. 20f the unit illustrated in Fig. 5 and showing a different way of supporting its end;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view .of a part of a unit made with two lattices spaced apart and connected by a web system of longitudinal and transverse truss members;

Fig. 8 is an end elevation of the unit shown in Fig. 7

Figs. 9 and 10 are sectional end elevations of the structure shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the sections being takenon the lines 9-9 and Ill-40 of Fi 7;

Fig. 11 is a side elevation of the structure shown in Figs. 7-10; and

Fig. 12 is a plan view on a smaller scale illustrating the manner in which the units of Fig. l are used. I

In the construction shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, .4. and 12, 20 and 30 designate the ends of two strips of flat metal which are welded together. These are-bent outwardly at approximately 45 to form diverging arms 2| and 3|, and then back into parallelism with the ends to form short outer portions 22, 32. Beyond these short portions the strips are bent inwardly aga'in to form converging arms 23, 33 and again into parallelism with the ends to form short inner portions 24, 34 which are Welded together. Similarly diverging arms 25, 35', short outer portions 26, 36, converging arms 21, 3?, short inner portions 28, 38, diverging arms 29, 39, etc, are formed. The short inner portions, such as 28, 38 are welded together. When a lattice of desired length has been formed, ends similar to 20, 30 are made and welded together.

Allis a chord spaced from the lattice thus formed and central with a. plane through the welded ends 20, 30 and the small inner portions 24, 34, 28, 38, etc. Another strap 4! in the same longitudinal plane as the chord 4|] has its. end 42 welded to the ends 20, 3|] at right angles thereto. It is bent down to the chord and welded thereto at 43 midway between the ends 20, 30 and the portions 24, 34. Thence, it ex-, tends to these small inner welded portions 24, 34 and is welded to them at 44. The strap 41 is welded to chord 40 at 45, to portions 28, 29 at 46 and to chord 40 at 41. Thus, a longitudinal trussed web is formed between the lattice and the chord 40, with the lattice affixed to the panel points of the trusses.

In Fig. 4A a T-section iron 49 is shown between the inner portions 24, 34. This figure also illustrates a further modification in that the part 44 of strap 4| is carried over the portions 24, 34 instead of under them, as shown in Figs. 1-4. Obviously, a T-iron may be interposed between the parts 42, 20 and 30 at the ends of the units. A transverse brace 50 is welded to chord 40 directly below the weld at 43. This extends at right angles to the chord 40 and obliquely up to the small outer portions 22, 32 and its ends are units thus formed are used. The ends 20, 30

bear on an I-beam A (shown also in Fig. 2), and the opposite ends bear on a beam B. Adjacent units are bolted together, as at 54 and angle irons 55 are bolted to the outer edges of the outside units to bear on a beam C at right angles to the beams A and B.

. In Fig. 1 a chord member 56 is shown in dotted lines across the upper ends of the transverse brace 5| to complete a. transverse truss, but the arms 25, 35 and 21, 31 of the latter form a divided chord for this truss and when the units are assembled as shown in Fig. 12, chord members such as 56 are not essential in all cases.

After the units are assembled, transverse chord members 51 (Fig. 12), one of which is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, are attached to the panel points of the transverse trusses. The parts are perforated, as at 58, for bolts or rivets to make this connection.

i. Such an assembly of units covers a panel. When made of such dimensions as to sustain the loads required by building codes, it is lighter and thinner than such material as has been available heretofore, on account of the novel web system described herein, by means of which a two-way construction is attained.

Thus, each unit comprises a divided top chord, a bottom chord, web members affixed to the bottom chord with-their panel points. afiixed to the divided top chord or lattice, and other web members transverse to the chords affixed at their panel points to the bottom chord and with their ends attached to the lattice. Such units are not cumbersome for shipment and can be assembled readily. When assembled and the transverse chords 5'! attached, the chords 40 and 51 form a bottom lattice.

If a column, such as 59, rises between the bearings A, B and C, the panel may be supported thereby by affixing brackets 59A tothe column and permitting them to extend under or between the portions, such as 26, 36 of adjacent units. I have said that the strips or rods may be of any desired cross-sectional shape. For convenience I have shown them as fiat straps. I prefer, however, to make them curved transversely, as-shown in Figs. 5 and 6. In these figures the ends 20A and 39A and the diverging and converging arms 2 IA, 3 IA and 23A, 33A are curved transversely. So is the strap MA, and where it meets theends 20A and-30A at 44A, as shown in Fig. 5, it presents better surfaces for welding. I prefer to flatten these straps where they form the small outer portions 22, 32 and the small inner portions 24, 34, etc. The chord 40A, the strap HA and the cross-braces 50A, etc., are likewise curved transversely and flattened where they come in contact with each other. The upstanding ends of the cross-braces are also flattened. In Fig. 6 the end of the unit is shown embedded in a wall D instead of resting on a bearing.

The invention may be utilized with a great variety of constructions. As an example of one of many possible modifications, I have shown in Figs. 7-11 two spaced lattices or grids 60 and 10, each substantially like that shown in Figs. 1, 2 and '3, which has been described specifically. These are interconnected by a web system which includes a longitudinal strap 6| bent to form longitudinal braces and .a plurality of transverse braces 62, 63, 64 transverse to the strap 6|.

I have described the invention specifically as applied to a fiat floor and have shown the lattices as fiat.v It is equally applicable to roofs, whether flat or arched and to vertical or slanting walls, as well as to horizontal structures. I have also shown that structural modifications may be made within the spirit and scope of the invention, and I intend no limitations other than those imposed by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A rigid structure of the character described comprising two spaced lattices, one of said lattices being formed of pairs of zigzag members having spaced parts interconnected, a plurality of longitudinally extending trusses having chords and oblique braces attached to the interconnected parts of .the zigzag members, and a plurality of transverse trusses comprising chords and oblique braces running between the chords and the aforesaid lattice, said chords of the longitudinaland transverse trusses forming the second lattice.

2. A unit adapted to form a part of a rigid structure of the character described, said unit comprising two spaced lattices each formed of a pair of similar zigzag members having spaced parts interconnected with the interconnected parts of said members of one lattice disposed between the interconnected parts of the members forming the other lattice, and a web system between the lattices, said web system comprising oblique braces running longitudinally between the interconnected parts of the members of the two lattices and transverse oblique braces running between the sides of one lattice to the interconnected parts of the members forming the other lattice.

3. A unit adapted to form a part of a rigid structure of the character described, said unit comprising a pair of similar zigzag members having spaced parts interconnected to form a lattice and a web system comprising a cord spaced from the lattice, interconnecting oblique braces in the plane of the cord between the interconnected parts of the zigzag members and intermediate partsof the cord forming a longitudinal truss member, and. a plurality of tranverse members running between the sides of the lattice andsaid intermediate parts of the cord. 5 s 4. A unit adapted to form a part'of a rigid structure of the character described, said unit comprising a pair of similar zigzag members hav- 1 bers in said plane running between the interconnected parts of the zigzag members and intermediate parts of the cord forming a longitudinal truss member, and a plurality of transverse braces running between the sides of the lattice and said intermediate parts of the cord, the lattice forming divided cords of trusses formed by it and the transverse braces.

5. A unit adapted to form a part of a rigid structure of the character described, said unit comprising a pair of similar zigzag members having spaced parts interconnected to form a lattice and a websystem on one side of the lattice, the web system com-prising a cord in a longitudinal plane through the center of the lattice and spaced from the lattice, interconnecting oblique braces in said plane running between the interconnected parts of the zigzag members and intermediate parts of the cord forming a longitudinal truss member, and a plurality of transverse braces running between the sides of the lattice and said intermediate parts of the cord, the lattice forming divided cords of trusses formed by it and the transverse braces, the sides of the lattice forming supporting members.

6. A unit adapted to form a part of a rigid structure of the character described, said unit comprising a pair of similar zigzag members having spaced parts interconnected to form a lattice and a web systemon one side of the lattice, the web system comprising a cord in a longitudinal plane through the center of the lattice and spaced from the lattice, interconnecting oblique members in said plane running between the interconnected parts of the zigzag members and intermediate parts of the cord forming a longitudinal truss member, a plurality of transverse braces running between the sides of the lattice and said intermediate parts of the card, the lattice forming divided cords of trusses formed. by it and the transverse braces, and means for attaching transverse cords to the panel points of the transverse trusses of an assembly of said units.

ROBERT W. BROWN. 

